I have a new respect and admiration for Spearmen in MTW2. Sure they are pretty good at killing cavalry, but I didnt know they were able to out fight really heavy infantry.

I was playing my epic campaign against the irish (currently the Irish are beginning to fight back despite losing vast tracks of land, I have held them off but need a change of tactics to slam their mostly ranged armys) I'd been defending one particular island against several attacks when they launched a 1000 man army (almost entirely Irish Swordsman) against me.

I'd only got Town Militia spearmen and a few Spear Militia units. I numbered 500, against an almost entirely 2 handed swordsman with some artillery and a few javellineers. They sat back and bombed my walls, so I legged it and deployed my men around the breaches, 3 units facing it.

When the enemy attacked they were hit by 3 units from almost all sides. Forced back to the breach at both wall breaches, they fought hard and were slowly crawling through 1 breach. The other breach was a slaughter, and as the units in the breach that were being stabbed to death broke about 200 were killed as they tried to flee. Killing those who couldnt outpace them I turned this breach defending force and charged it into the back of the force trying to storm the other breach...

Not one of them got out.

of the 1000 men that came, 5 got out, all of these crew of the Bombard that had been shelling us. Spearmen I guess were just too quick against the slower swordsman.

Words cannot describe how awesome this game is for strategy buffs. If you want to be challenged in ways you'd never thought of this is for you.

Yesterday my Scottish Forces faced the wrath of Norway. Early battles and fights had taken some Norwegian Forces out, but my main force had surged north to take out the 2 main Norwegian castles/cities. I knew as I marched forward that King Knut of Norway and his hideously large, well trained and equipped army had landed. But for some reason it headed past mine and let me siege and capture a big castle. I rapidly reinforced it to max and bang the huge 1000 odd strong Knut Army AND another 900 men attacked it.

They sieged and I knew they'd attack rather than starve me out. Queue the epic battle.

2000 well trained soldiers against an army consisting of Some Highlanders, Highland Rabble, some Peasant Archers, Mercenary Crossbowman, Mailed Knights and Border Horses.

Arrayed on the front walls were the Archers, Crossbowman and 2 units of Highland Rabble placed to counter the 2 siege towers. Gate was defended by 3 units of highlanders. 2 more highlander units were placed near likely siege tower points to reinforce. Cavalry was located down the main road into the castle center, 2 Commanders and bodyguards located with them.

The enemy disposition was interesting. Half in Front, Half Behind. The Behind lot lacked ANY siege equipment or weapons. The front lot had 2 siege towers, 1 Ram and 1 ladder equipped unit. Also , worringly 2 catapult units (4 total). I waited to see the enemies move.

First off the catapults moved into firing range on their own... I spotted this and sent in the cavalry, ripping their crews up after 1 volley of fire. Then splitting half attacked the ladders and another attacked a unit of lightly armed viking raiders who were trying to attack my engaged cavalry. At this point I attracted the attention of Knut and his veteran knights so I quickly legged it back into the castle.

Knut followed and was peppered with arrow and crossbow fire. The siege towers and ram moved in, all 3 deploying. Before the siege tower deployed archers fell back to neighbouring ramparts and the Rabble and Highlanders moved forward. The units that came up the tower got ripped apart for mild losses to the rabble. Oddly the other tower bypassed that one and attacked a side wall, unfortunatly they were sitting ducks for arrow fire and they were peppered before being attacked by highlanders. Alot of enemy units were killed by highlanders, actualy descending the siege towers to fight. At the gate the ram deployed, got mauled by boiling oil (and units trying to get in got heavily arrowed).

It broke through only for its unit to get mauled by boiling oil and highlanders waiting behind the gate. Knut and other units charged into the gate and were hammered by highlanders. Knut died at the hands of a mercenary highlander unit...

At this point the other 1000 guys moved round in 2 forces to attack the front gate. I redeployed to pepper this lot with arrows and they took heavy losses. The cavalry (with my generals) sallied forth and took out a lot of infantry (All the units had triple veterancy and some were into 5 levels)

Of the 1900 men that went in 975 were dead and 700 were captured. They refused to pay for them..

Norway was defeated a few turns later. Now comes the irish who have randomly attacked 2 crap islands.

Old news I know but this is actualy good news.

I like alot of fans was watching these eagerly to see what would come of it. It had ALOT of potential for an awful lot of fun. The initial devlogs and the very few screenshots showed a really nice engine for portraying the starships and interiors.

The concept art and details behind the planet generator was really interesting and looked like a possible WoW beater could finally arrive and defeat the "cartoony bollocks"

Then they released THIS

http://gaming.trekcore.com/startrekonline/screens/IntScreen.jpg


Now dont get me wrong I could live with space like that, its not as good as the early screenshots but its ok. But the text window is so crap words can barely describe. Thats one of the most awful things I've ever seen.

How can you attempt immersion and fun gameplay with utter design suicide like that?.

Perpetual has now been dropped (all employees sacked which is a shame for moral reasons even if the game was crap) and someone in the "Bay Area of San Francisco" has been given it.

Will probably be a few years til this comes out now :)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_Trek_Online

To see some of the better looking visuals.

I can vaguely remember the first one being utter crap. I randomly downloaded the sequels demo because I was bored.

First Mistake. Then I installed it. I should have really known from the crap looking cutscene which explained the entire plot in seconds. I.E there isnt one and your just killing terrorists.

The first terrorist I saw was about 10 seconds into the game as he ran out of a door between to civilians. He was capped dead instantly and dropped into a pose I've not seen for a while.

He was down on his knees, upper body bent back arms out wide (One still holding their AK 1 handed). The fact I couldnt even take the gun showed that within 10 seconds the game was utter crap and not worth £10. I dare say they want £30-£40 for it.

I wouldnt even give them £1 because they've proved they cant make a decent game, and we really dont want them making any more. A few more minutes of sillyness (including help text that said I could have 5 weapons when I had 4 and I couldnt take any weapons of dead mercs) and the amusing realization that my melee attack is a punch when I could smack the fethers in the face with a huge rifle.

I actualy nearly killed the guy who we were trying to save because I cared so little for the game.

I honestly wouldnt even download the demo unless your drunk and want a good laugh.

Sins of A Solar Empire is a better FPS than this and Sins isnt even an FPS...

Two Worlds, was a bold attempt.

It was basically an attempt at oblivion on a shoe string budget. Large scale vistas little loading.

It didnt really work. The combat system makes little sense and looks crap. I click alot and something either dies or kills me. I could use fire balls but even with some boosts and leveling its crap damage. The M key doesnt open a map... Riiight.

Theres some teleporters all over the place. And I mean alot. Visuals are, well again crap. For some reason the water looks really nice. The rest doesnt. Characters and effects are generally poor (except for the nice effect around nodes) The levelling system isnt friendly requiring grinding to avoid getting slaughtered lots. There are definatly Two Worlds. One is this game which I was stupid enough to buy cheap. The other is Oblivion which is soo much better its silly.

Now downloading bioshock to make up for it.

I dont think I've played a game, especially an FPS , recently that I instantly started playing the singleplayer campaign AGAIN right after the end credits.

I have now. The sheer amount of freedom in the first few hours is awesome. There are soo many ways of doing things. Stealth, shooting shit up. Blowing shit up. Driving and blowing shit up. Hell even punching shit up and throwing things with super strength (Where anything is a weapon including a thrown sauce pan into a korean soldiers bollocks)

The amount of damage you can cause to some buildings is mental. I was buried alive in one once by a helicopter. Awesome weapon addon system (grenade launcher to guy in toilet ftw)

Also blowing a petrol station up was insanely impressive. Especially when it flipped a Korean tank. This game is soo much better than Farcry (which was a nice try but flawed) I even liked the Alien bits (though I had to lower shader quality for the ice bit) The aliens are very weird and with some seriously odd weapons but it seems like they are far more intelligent than it seems.

Awesome war with the Koreans bit (but it never called them South OR North Koreans as memory serves) particularly when I was doing super jump pistol dance round walls.

Lots of awesome guns,and not enough Koreans.

Big system requirements though... test the demo before you buy...